The salamuri has a long history in Georgia. Salamuri started it’s existence in pastoral atmosphere. Therefore, Salamuri’s repertoire mainly consists of shepherd melodies and primarily played by men. Salamuri has been the most widespreaded instrument in Georgia, that is confirmed by the legends and sayings kept by Georgian people, as well as by classic literature monuments. Obviously, the popularity of the instrument is provided by diversity of legends about the isntrument. Origination of Salamuri is connected with the happiness and misery of a man.

Salamuri Samples

According to the people’s belief, the sorrows of human being were the reason of creating Salamuri. The legend says that when the first reed grew up on the orphan’s grave, the wind blew and the reed moaned in a sad voice.

“The grave of a little shepherd”

Salamuri was an inseparatable close friend of a farmer that cheered him up in times of sorrow and sweetened his merriments. According to people’s belief, nothing can destroy a reed pipe; even the fire cannot damage the instrument. The parents’ faces are reflected from its ashes and even the broken small piecies emit sweet tunes.

According to the folk story, lost child can be found with the help of Salamuri’s voice. As the legend says, the people were gifted with this instrument by the God. Therefore it is considered to be the celestial instrument. Many stories tell us that the man created this instrument similar to the instrument of Miraculous Archangels. That is why it is considered to be a divine musical instrument.

Nowadays it has the stable place in the Georgian folk instrumental ensemble. It traveled almost whole the world among with the Georgian temper dances and charmed many people with the original sounding.
There is interesting poem written by famous Georgian writer Akaki Tsereteli in 1886:

Once I heard, Cane reed grown up on the Orphans grave,

And he was looking to sky threatened with his head

To bring our country’s cruel event and complains,

But at that time Devil soul collide as strong wind,

The wind bended the reed opposite directions (from one side to another)